Unofficial FAQ part 3: Gameplay
>Astarsis and ixidorsbane
>Special thanks to InLeatherArmor for reviewing the FAQ

3.1 General
3.1.1 What is the general storyline ?
The story of TES4 Oblivion is completely independent from previous Elder Scrolls stories, but take place in the same world.

A strong magic barrier fuelled by the magical bond of the emperor of Tamriel with the land kept the Daedra at bay.

In the opening sequence of the game, assassins struck and killed the emperor two sons and are now in pursuit of the emperor. By chance the emperor escape route pass through your cell and the guards give you your freedom. Along the way to escape, the emperor is killed. On his dying words, he give you the amulet of kings (a powerful and very ancient artefact) and task you with finding his lost heir.

As the magical barrier weaken, portal to the planes of Oblivion will open, and you can venture in those alternate dimension to try to find the heir or perhaps attempt to get some Daedric loot ? The choice is yours ! This is a completely open ended game. You can even try to find the lost Dwemer race.After the death of the emperor, the political landscape of Cyrodil is frractured as 5 count vie for power. You can expect massive battles, and not just between the counts, there are rumours of undead armies and Daedric hordes ! You can also join any of the mercenary guilds (fighter, mages, thieves), become a famed gladiator, or even become a cut throat evil assassin. The choice is yours.

3.1.2 What is the amount of Gameplay
The main quest, if you follow a straightforward path is about 20-40 hours. If you do all the side quests and guild quests, you're in for over 200 hours. Of course you can also pursue your own goals, from gathering the largest stack of mushroom to building the largest pillow fort (havoc powered pillow fort)

You can also search the countryside for Daedric shrines and do quests for the Daedra. You will also find many dungeons and scattered local quests. Finally Radiant AI itself might initiate quests up to the level of complexity of Fargoth's quest in Morrowind.

Hard facts
> 5 counts vying for power
> many planes of Oblivion to visit
> 6 guilds to join
> 700 armor pieces to gather
> 121 plants types to mix potions
> 9 houses to purchase
> 5 types of horses to collect
> Holidays to celebrate
> 400 books to collect
> 200 large handcrafted dungeons
> 150 quests
> Daedric quests
> Massive battles (7 large battles ?)

3.1.3 How does the character creation work ?
You start the game in company of the emperor helping him escape assassins. Before the game begins you select your character race and appearance.

This initial dungeons is about 30 minutes of gameplay, After your escape, based on your style of play, you are suggested a suitable profession, but you can bypass it and select anything you want or even create your own custom class. Just before the exit you get a confirmation screen where you can completely change your race, look, class and birthsign

3.1.4 Is there a shortcut to create characters ?
Save just before the confirmation screen after the first dungeon. You can create new characters from there.

3.2 Skills
3.2.1 What are the skills
> Skills categories are not known yet
> Here is the list of all 21 skills classified per attributes

• ENDURANCE
  • Block
  • Heavy Armor - Perk: no penalty for sneak, magic
  • Armorer - Perks: repair magic items; repair beyond 100%
• STRENGTH
  • Blade (cover both short and long blades)
  • Hand2Hand
  • Blunt (also cover axes, may cover spears)
• SPEED
  • Athletics
  • Acrobatics (include active dodging) - Perk : dodge moves
  • Light Armor
• AGILITY
  • Security
  • Sneak - Perk : can sneak in daylight
  • Marksman - Perk : zoom
• PERSONALITY
  • Mercantile - Perk : invest in shops
  • Diplomacy
  • Illusion
• INTELLIGENCE
  • Alchemy - Perk : use more potions at once
  • Conjuration
  • Mysticism
• WILLPOWER
  • Destruction
  • Alteration
  • Restoration

3.2.2 What are skill ranks ?
Morrowind style training is no longer available, you have to learn the hard way. However there is a new type of training available that can increase the amount of features (perks) available to you. In order to access that training you must have reached a certain efficiency level

The training ranks available are as follow
> Novice 1-19%
> Apprentice 20-39%
> Journeyman 40-59%
> Expert 60-79%
> Master 80-100%

This information is assembled from many articles and might not be 100% accurate. the articles mentioned the 5 ranks clearly and that they were broken in 20%, but didn't mention the exact breakdown.

Likewise it was hinted that the old type training was replaced by this system, but there was never a clear FAQ or codex entry on the subject.

3.2.3 What are skill perks
Each type you reach a new rank in training, you gain access to new perks. Perks are features that amplify your skill a lot. It can be a zoom feature for the Marksman skill, or a new power attack for a weapon skill. Some perk like the sneak attack are obtained from one skill (Sneak) but affect many other skills (weapons skills). Some high level perk can even allow combo that use more than one skill, such as acrobatics attacks (block + jump).

3.2.4 Can you give examples of skills perks ?
See the skill section above.
There are also Guild perks. But those are completely different and obtained by raising in Guild rank. One example is the enchant perk for the mage guild

3.3 Combat
3.3.1 Is mounted combat available ?
No. But your horse has health and can be attacked. There will be horse armor available as downloadable content for the PC and Xbox 360. It is unknown if some horses armor will be readily available in the initial game. The example that what given was the availability of a Daedric style horse armor matching the Daedric armor set of the player. It seemed to imply some horse armor may be available right away, but not all types of armor.

If attacked while riding, you will either need to run away, or dismount to fight.

3.3.2 Were some features removed since TES3 Morrowind ?
> Spears, crossbows and thrown weapons are out.
> Some weapons & armor skills got merged.
> Enchant is now a high rank Guild perks

3.3.3 What are the other major differences between TES3 and TES4 combat system?
TES IV combat is more action oriented. Now there are no dice rolls used to determine if you hit a target. If the target is in range and you hit, you will make contact. Your stats, weapon skill efficiency and type of weapon are used in determining the amount of damage done to an enemy. Strength plays a role in damage per strike, and speed (both the character's and the weapon's) in damage per second. Weapon rating for speed and damage also have an impact.

Both blocking and dodging are active skills now. The target of an attack may elect to block, absorbing part of the damage (based on his block skill and stats). He can also elect to avoid the attack by running, jumping, dodging or even by using magical means. Sneak attack and Marksman zoom perk are now available.

Read the other sections for more details on these and other TES4 combat concepts

3.3.4 How does blocking work ?
You hold the block button and brace for impact. If you successfully block, the opponent may recoil, giving you the opportunity to use a power attack. At high rank, the blocking skills give perks such as disarm. You can block with a shield, a weapons, or even bare hands (think Nemo in the Matrix). Blocking with you hands will not absorb weapon damage. It is suspected that blocking with bare hands will absorb the damage from hand to hand attacks.

The block skill (and your stats) will govern all effectiveness of blocking, that is how much damage get absorbed, and the chances of producing recoil or disarm.

Holding up you shield for blocking will slow you down (unable to run), and you also have to be facing your opponent to block an attack.

see 3.3.6 for Dodging

3.3.5 How is hand to hand changed
Hand 2 Hand is now more similar to warrior monk fighting, and can be as deadly as using a broadsword.

3.3.6 How is unarmored combat changed
Dodging is now an active skill based on athletics and dodging. You can use acrobatics moves to get out of the way. Acrobatics allow rolling moves and prince-of-persia style of acrobatics

3.3.7 What changes were done to the armor skills ?
There are now only 2 armor skills (light and heavy) overing 6 subtypes of armor each (for a total of 12 subtypes). Armor will penalise you when sneaking or using magic.A good armor skill will reduce the penalty and some high level perks will negate the penalty

3.3.8 What are recoil and disarm ?
> Recoil is an effect obtained by blocking where the opponent is pushed backward and stunned for a short time, allowing for a strong opportunity attack.
> Disarm is a skill perk available for weapons, hand to hand and block (shield) skills

3.3.9 What is a sneak attack ?
A sneak attack is a perk allowed by the sneak skill that let you make devastating attack against an unsuspecting foe. Not all weapons can benefit from an undetected sneak attack. high-damage two-handed weapon will not benefit from it. It has been said that each weapon will have its own sneak attack, and that when used will ignore an opponent?s armor rating to inflict more damage.

3.3.10 How does Ranged weapons work ?
-you aim, you shoot
Only bows are availlable, and the zoom perk allow you to zoom on the target. You can use the skill to activate traps or hit/move objects. Staves will be ranged magical weapons. It is suspected their use will be covered by other skills such as destruction, rather than by the Marksman skill

3.3.11 What is yielding
Opponents may yield to you (surrender) and you may yield to opponents, avoiding a deadly end. However it depend on factions, reputation and type of npcs/ creatures. -A Daedroth is more likely to eat you as snack than to accept your surrender

3.3.12 What are poisons ?
Alchemy allow the making of poison that can be used to coat weapons for a single-use poisoned attack. A poison is simply a potion with a detrimental (harmfull effect). The effect need not be dammaged based, it can also have special effects such as Paralysis or Silence. A small green droplet icon appears on the screen indicating a potion has been applied to the weapon. Once you hit a target the poison work its effect, and the weapon return to its normal state.

3.3.13 How do magic weapons work ?
Magic weapons are all strike on impact and does negative effects on target. They are charged items and must be recharged using soul gems. You cannot enchant weapons with positive effects or with effects that would affect the player character.

3.3.14 How is radiant AI affecting the combat ?
NPCs, or creatures such as skeletons, may pick up weapons from the ground. Opponents may yield, flee or even set ambushes. Opponents can follow you though doors

3.3.15 What's the relation between the Arena guild and combat ?
Since its a faction, the arena can allow for a safe place to practice your skill through non lethal combat (using the yielding feature above). You can also raise through the ranks, trying to become a champion, gain fame, and obtain rewards. The arena is also a place where you can observe combat or even place your bets and possibly turn a profit from that gambling.

3.3.16 Is dual wielding available ?
No, but it will certainly be modded in !

3.3.17 Is location damage used ?
No, damage still work the same (a global health value). However the engine take in account strikes from front, sides, and back and adjust dammage accordingly. The engine does not support dismemberment on NPCs (or the player). However skeletons will crumble to dust and bones when defeated.

3.4 Magic
3.4.1 What schools of magic are present in the game ?
All 6 schools of magic are coming back
> Alteration
> Conjuration
> Destruction
> Ilusion
> Mysticism
> Restoration

3.4.2 How do you join the mage guild ?
You must learn (training) all 6 school of magic. While not indicated in the article, it is suspected you must reach 20% in each skill in order to reach the apprentice rank in each category.

Once this stage is done you can attend the magic university and join the mage guild.

3.4.3 Is the enchant skill still available ?
The enchant skill is gone. However in Morrowind it was mostly used as a recharge skill and usually failed at creating items. In TES4 Oblivion, Enchant is available as a high rank Mage Guild perk. You can gather elven crystals through the land to enhance the enchantability of objects. All enchant effects (except for weapons and staves) are constant effects. This is why the old enchant skill is now useless.

For charged items such as magic weapons and staves (ranged magical weapons) you will need soulgems to recharge them. Filled soulgems are now available as treasures, to help the warrior types who don't know how to use Soultrap. Those charged items are only usable as offensive tools, they target your enemy with detrimental effects. Enchanted weapons work on strike. Staves worked like ranged weapons, but with their effectiveness directed by the appropriate magical skill (Destruction for a fireball, etc..)

In the early game you can also enchant items using special magical stones present in the plane of oblivion. However those types of enchantments are fixed.

3.4.4 How did the alchemy skill change ?
It's very similar to Morrowind. However, to prevent exploits, the number of potions you can drink at once is limited. Specific perks increase that limit.

See the section on poisons for more details. Cooking is also available and probably directed by the alchemy skill, but details are sketchy, other than the ingredients cooked can add a heath bonus (heal heath probably)

3.4.5 What changes were made to magic travel
Firstly Mark and Recall are gone to prevent exploit. However magical travel, especially to get away from enemies inside a dungeon, or to heal from poison, will be available. We just don't know yet the form or the name it will take, or if a variety of travel spells will be available. Unlike fast travel, magical travel is instantaneous

3.4.6 Does magicka regenerate over time in TES4 ?
Yes ! And it is governed by the WILLPOWER attribute and regenerate at a decent rate. Sufficient for a player to be a pure mage. Your casting power can be supplemented by an arsenal of magical ranged weapons (staves)

3.4.7 What other changes are known about the magic system
-Little is known at the moment.

However Telekinesis is one of the major feature, allowing you to move object at the distance, using the havoc physic engine. You can use it to get rid of traps or trigger them. Havoc will also be used to make the paralysis spell more realistic. Now targets affected by paralysis will become inert and fall, possibly harming themselves. It is also known you can use a revive spell to turn your enemies in mindless bodyguards. It is not known if this is a necromancy spell or more like a resurrection spell.

3.5 Stealth
3.5.1 How do I stay honest ?
The Game has a feature where a red hand that show over items that don't belong to you. Also there is a stealth-o-meter acon that indicate if you are hidden or not. This will avoid you costly mistakes.

3.5.2 How does stealth work
The game features Light, Shadow and Sound Based Sneaking, Your encumbrance and the armor you wear will also have an impact (see armor section in Combat). There will be a small eye icon over the cursor that indicates if you are hidden or not. The Sneak skill is the cornerstone of the system and allows hiding, stealing and even sneak attack

3.5.3 How does lock picking work ?
Lock picking is a mini game
> A screen open up showing a cross section of the lock
> You use a lockpick to move 2-5 tumblers in place
> You press a key to lock the tumblers at their appex

The harder the lock, the more tumblers there are (from 2-5) and the more difficult it is to lock the tumblers in place

You can tell the game to solve the lock itself without having you do it manually, and the game does a dice roll against the lock level using your security skill. The higher your skill in lockpicking, the better chance you have of opening without breaking your pick.

3.5.4 How does Diplomacy work
You move your target between 4 points to interact with npcs
> Boast
> Admire
> Joke
> Bully

As you move your cursor over theoptions, you will have to watch the subtle cues on the NPC?s face to see which one will work the best.
It's very useful to get information or to get out of sticky situations

3.5.5 How does mercantile work ?
The following elements are known
> A skill perk allow you to sell to npcs (instead of just shop)
> A high rank perk allow you to invest in stores for a profit

3.5.6 What can you do with the marksman skill
This is a very versatile skill.
> Regular attack
> Sneak attack
> Hitting a target with havoc physics effects
> Disarming a trap (by tumbling a crystal)
> Triggering a trap

3.5.7 What are traps and how can you use them ?
There will now be physic-based traps throughout the game (average 2-3 per dungeon). They will be implemented using the Havok engine and can range from spiked logs that swing down from the ceiling, pits you might fall into or gates that come flying off the walls towards you.

Most of the time you must avoid them or disarm them, but in some circumstances it may be useful to trigger them against unsuspecting foes (Marksman, Telekinesis and physic-based objects can all come in handy).

You will be unable to set your own traps in game, and must use the CS for this.

3.5.8 How do I get in the thieves guild ?
The easiest way to gain admittance, is to be thrown in jail for a non-violent crime, and someone from the Thieves Guild will then approach you and offer you to join. You can also go through the conventional means of talking to NPC?s. Someone will eventually come to enlist you if you are a promising recruit.

3.5.9 Tell me about the interactive jail break
The jail in TES IV: Oblivion is a real cell that you are taken to when caught committing a crime. All your items will be taken from you and put in the local evidence chest and returned to you (all except stolen items) when your time in jail has ended.

You can either serve your time, or find a means to escape.

Jail Facts
> While in jail all skills decrease except sneak and security
> You can try to convince or bribe the guard
> You can try to pick the lock and run
> You can use telekinesis or other magical means
> You can try using brute force

3.5.10 Tell me about the Dark Brotherhood
> If you kill innocent peoples, you will be offered to join.
> The Dark Brotherhood is your local club of homicidal maniacs.
> One of the quest involve killing everyone at a dinner party without getting caught

3.5.11 Tell me about fame and infamy
The game keep tracks of many of your statistics including how many goblins you killed, for example, and your reputation with everybody

Two very important statistics are fame and infamy.
Fame measure your heroism, while infamy measure your criminality.

Neither of these stats can be lowered, they only increase as you progress through the game. These, and many more (faction, personality, etc.), are all taken into account to decide what NPC?s disposition to you will be.